With the variety of different engine technologies emerging to replace the traditional internal combustion engine, Honda has taken a very smart approach with its Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) ultra-compact vehicle. The concept car features a modular rear engine bay designed to accommodate a wide variety of potential powertrain technologies including a conventional small internal combustion engine, a hybrid system, or a battery-electric drivetrain.
The P-NUT, which Honda unveiled at the LA Auto Show this week, is designed for cities and tight urban areas with its small, micro-car footprint. The concept vehicle seats three with its central driving position flanked by two rear seats. This configuration provides legroom roughly equivalent to that of a mid-sized saloon for all passengers, but in a vehicle measuring 3.4m long, 1.75m wide and 1.4m high (11.2 x 5.7 x 4.6 feet). The rear seats can also be folded out of the way to increase storage capacity.
The futuristic flowing exterior lines of the the P-NUT merge in the standout element - the one piece combination windshield/roof. The windshield - which serves as a head-up display (HUD) for the navigation system and reversing camera - not only offers total above the head visibility, but also extends almost to the floor of the vehicle, broken only by an oversized Honda logo.
Developed by The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Los Angeles, the P-NUT is currently only a concept with no plans in place to bring it into production.
